A heavily damaged pickup truck is seen after a traffic crash in a rural area
KRG reports seven-year drop in road deaths across Kurdistan Region
ERBIL — The Kurdistan Region’s Interior Ministry on Monday reported a steady decline in traffic fatalities from 2018 to 2025, saying the “numbers are surprising” as annual deaths and crash totals continue to fall across Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Duhok.
The ministry released the figures during events held in Erbil and other cities to mark the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on Nov. 16, 2025. Officials credited the drop to an updated traffic system and expanded surveillance coverage, saying the system aims to protect the public and adding, “People are protected and we value life.”
According to the data, Erbil’s crashes fell from 1,332 in 2018 to 709 in 2024, while fatalities declined from 256 to 98. Sulaymaniyah recorded decreases from 1,158 crashes and 185 deaths to 1,012 crashes and 155 deaths. In Duhok, crashes dropped from 1,091 to 581, and deaths from 117 to 67.
In the first eight months of 2025, Erbil recorded 346 crashes and 53 deaths, Duhok recorded 457 crashes and 56 deaths, and Sulaymaniyah recorded 678 crashes and 126 deaths.
Hemen Mirani, director general of the ministry’s diwan, said more than 4,000 traffic incidents are logged each year and that more than 500 people lose their lives. He said vehicles have become “one of the serious threats to human life and property” in the Kurdistan Region over the past two decades.
The region has installed point-to-point speed cameras and traffic cameras on major highways and inside Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Duhok, a system officials say has contributed to the decline.
The ministry said the trends align with rising vehicle numbers across the region, which it identified as a major factor behind congestion and traffic incidents.
A detailed governorate breakdown shows:
Erbil Governorate
2018: 1,332 crashes, 265 deaths, 1,389 injuries
2019: 1,465 crashes, 209 deaths, 1,291 injuries
2020: 748 crashes, 118 deaths, 716 injuries
2021: 994 crashes, 179 deaths, 1,008 injuries
2022: 811 crashes, 110 deaths, 865 injuries
2023: 890 crashes, 87 deaths, 842 injuries
2024: 709 crashes, 98 deaths, 726 injuries
First eight months of 2025: 346 crashes, 53 deaths, 327 injuries
Duhok Governorate
2018: 1,091 crashes, 117 deaths, 1,115 injuries
2019: 1,002 crashes, 98 deaths, 1,102 injuries
2020: 646 crashes, 58 deaths, 636 injuries
2021: 1,004 crashes, 103 deaths, 1,175 injuries
2022: 687 crashes, 73 deaths, 901 injuries
2023: 622 crashes, 65 deaths, 839 injuries
2024: 581 crashes, 67 deaths, 751 injuries
First eight months of 2025: 457 crashes, 56 deaths, 451 injuries
Sulaymaniyah Governorate
2018: 1,158 crashes, 185 deaths, 1,543 injuries
2019: 1,200 crashes, 186 deaths, 3,291 injuries
2020: 871 crashes, 171 deaths, 2,695 injuries
2021: 1,240 crashes, 231 deaths, 3,752 injuries
2022: 1,065 crashes, 174 deaths, 3,835 injuries
2023: 1,037 crashes, 153 deaths, 3,887 injuries
2024: 1,012 crashes, 155 deaths, 3,582 injuries
First eight months of 2025: 678 crashes, 126 deaths, 2,600 injuries